Improvement in skirts



- elastic band alone.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

s. ELLIOT FOSTER, oF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SKIRTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 149,849, dated April 2l, 1874; application filed December 31, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, S. ELLIOT FOSTER, of Buffalo, in the State of New York, have invented a new and useful Adjustable and Elastic Skirt Band 5 and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a View ofthe adjustable and Fig. 2 is a side view of a skirt with the same attached.

My invention consists in providing ladies7 skirts with an adjustable and elastic band, for holding the front of the skirt smooth and free from folds, and throwing the fullness to the back of the skirt, which is very important, not only in improving the set of the skirt, but in rendering it more convenient and graceful of carriage. It is also very important as an elasticbut eflicientv prevention ofthe tilting of the skirt in front when the wearer sits down.

I provide an elastic band of suitable material, a a, Fig. l, about hal'f or three-quarters of an inch broad and about ve-eighths of a yard long. At the end of this elastic band I form button-holes; and, if desired, protect and strengthen them from 'wear and tear by forming the ends of the band of strong cotton, or other suitable material, b b. This elastic band I adjust and apply to the skirt c c, Fig. l, by buttoning the same upon buttons fastened to the skirt, usually on the inside at the second seams from the front, and at a distance of about one-third of the front length of the skirt from the Waist. The second seams are situated about onehalf of the distance round the person` from the front. The band, ,by being stretched around the rear of the undergarments, pulls the fullness of the skirts to which it is attached to the rear of its points of fastening, and smooths the front breadths, and renders them free from folds.

The length of the bands will vary somewhat with the size of the wearer; and other modes of fastening to the skirt may be employed, such as hooks and eyelets.

The essential parts of my invention are the elasticity of the band and its combination with the skirts, as described, by means of devices which permit it to be adjustable and detaehed at pleasure.

What I claim, and desire. to secure by Let- -ters Patent, is-

. The combination and arrangement of the elastic and detachable skirtband above described with a skirt, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

S. ELLIOT FOSTER. 

